Drought/Low Rainfall Watch - Summer 2018

Oneiric 3 · 22-08-2018 7:42am

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

The total for Johnstown Castle seems unusually high. I think the total was skewed by one exceptionally heavy couple of hours of rain about 10 days ago down that way while the majority of the county had very little rain in comparison.

Daily totals at Johnstown Castle for the 28 day period referenced above (from Met Éireann)

MJohnston · 22-08-2018 3:06pm

Oneiric 3 wrote: »

Here's some rainfall data for the last 28 days as reported by Met Eireann, and calculated using the 'Ag reports'.

If Cork Airport doesn't record 30.3mm of rain in the next 9 days (including today), it will be the driest summer on record there.

Entirely possible that this could be true at lots of other stations too. sryanbruen - do you know the driest summer totals for each of the stations?

sryanbruen · 22-08-2018 5:54pm

MJohnston wrote: »

If Cork Airport doesn't record 30.3mm of rain in the next 9 days (including today), it will be the driest summer on record there.

Entirely possible that this could be true at lots of other stations too. sryanbruen - do you know the driest summer totals for each of the stations?

This is taking a lot longer than I expected so I thought I'd give what I've done so far.

Top 5 driest Summers (June-July-August) on record (with 2018 up to August 21st included) for the following 4 stations.

Dublin Airport (1942 to 2018)

1. 2018 - 63.6mm
2. 1975 - 78.6mm
3. 1995 - 89.0mm
4. 1959 - 100.0mm
5. 2006 - 102.3mm

Belmullet (1957 to 2018)

1. 1983 - 115.2mm
2. 1976 - 130.8mm
3. 2006 - 140.0mm
4. 1995 - 140.1mm
5. 1972 - 161.8mm

Valentia Observatory (1940 to 2018)

1. 1940 - 131.9mm
2. 1975 - 133.6mm
3. 1955 - 134.3mm
4. 2018 - 152.0mm
5. 1977 - 164.1mm

Shannon Airport (1946 to 2018)

1. 2006 - 89.3mm
2. 2018 - 98.0mm
3. 1983 - 106.3mm
4. 1976 - 107.4mm
5. 1981 - 122.8mm

Data comes from Met Éireann.

You can find the chart versions to these attached. I will do others also.

23-08-2018 11:14pm

The past couple of weeks have been lovely here in KK, - lots of sunshine, a few showers, and not too hot. Farmers and gardens are still under severe pressure though. We've only scraped up to 11mm for the entire month of August, since this morning's showers.

JJayoo · 23-08-2018 11:23pm

15 mm from 11am till now (23.30) I'm south sligo.

Fcuk off rain

24-08-2018 4:27pm

Another 4mm in Kilkenny this morning. My pot plants are ecstatic. We're up to 15mm now since beginning of August!

pauldry · 24-08-2018 7:16pm

Newport has gone past its Normal full monthly quota of rain for August. Most other stations in the West and North will too with rainfall on at least 90 per cent of the remaining days of August.

For South and East rainfall on less than 50 per cent of the days means below average August.

Victor Meldrew · 26-08-2018 12:24pm

Do we need average rainfall to have no soil moisture deficits and no water shortages or does "average" provide a lot of surplus ?

Or, if rainfall remains below average is it still possible to replenish reserves?

appledrop · 26-08-2018 12:49pm

16mm in Dublin since midnight so I think we are ok now in East! No more rain please!

Victor Meldrew · 26-08-2018 2:19pm

appledrop wrote: »

16mm in Dublin since midnight so I think we are ok now in East! No more rain please!

Well, if it could confine itself to midnight to 6.30, that would be great.

Mobhi1 · 27-08-2018 6:28pm

Dublin probably needs about another 100mm of rain to reach its normal summer rainfall total. And May's rainfall was also quite low although March and April's were above normal.

Gaoth Laidir · 27-08-2018 11:26pm

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

Do we need average rainfall to have no soil moisture deficits and no water shortages or does "average" provide a lot of surplus ?

Or, if rainfall remains below average is it still possible to replenish reserves?

I think average soil moisture deficit for this time.of year (or at least a month ago) are around 20-30 mm, so to have no deficit would be too far the other way. See that report that Met Éireann recently released on the heatwave.

sryanbruen · 28-08-2018 1:23pm

Hosepipe ban has been extended to September 30th for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0828/988077-irish-water/

MidMan25 · 28-08-2018 3:16pm

Shambles of a country when you consider all the rain we get. Why does it always take a wake up call for anything to be done? We are so reactionary it's frightening.

Alanstrainor · 28-08-2018 3:18pm

MidMan25 wrote: »

Shambles of a country when you consider all the rain we get. Why does it always take a wake up call for anything to be done? We are so reactionary it's frightening.

Maybe if we brought in a water utility, that charged people for their usage of water, which can then use this money to repair the aging water network in Ireland. Why so reactionary indeed...

SleetAndSnow · 28-08-2018 3:48pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Maybe if we brought in a water utility, that charged people for their usage of water, which can then use this money to repair the aging water network in Ireland. Why so reactionary indeed...

Maybe if the 2 billion euro + all the bonuses they were getting was used to repair the pipes instead of charging people already burdened down by high tax rates it could have been fixed..

But thats an issue for another thread, not here.

As for water levels, while its been raining a lot in Cork and the south in general, the fact Cork Airport has recorded its dryest summer in recorded history shows why its still an issue. The rain we have had hasn't been enough.

M.T. Cranium · 28-08-2018 6:18pm

These are current total rainfalls May through August for various locations, only a small amount is expected to be added to these totals before August ends on Friday night. Rainfalls in mm.

LOCATION ____ TOTAL ___ 1981-2010 NORMAL ____ % to date __ % with 2 mm added

Casement _____ 106.6 _____ 248.1 _____________ 43 _________ 44

Dublin (A) _____ 110.7 _____ 255.7 _____________ 43 _________ 44

Oak Park ______ 110.8 _____ 251.2 _____________ 44 _________ 45

Johnstown C ___ 144.1 _____ 296.7 _____________ 48 _________ 49

Mullingar ______ 150.5 _____ 300.2 _____________ 50 _________ 51

Dunsany ______ 139.9 _____ 275.7 ______________51 _________ 52

Gurteen _______ 148.4 _____ 291.4 _____________ 51 _________ 52

Cork __________ 183.1 _____ 338.8 _____________ 54 _________ 55

Moorepark _____ 164.1 _____ 285.1 ______________57 _________ 58

Shannon _______ 181.3 _____ 282.5 _____________ 64 _________ 65

The gradient west and north of this dry zone is fairly tight, Mountdillon is at 285.1 mm (normal 306.1, so about 93%), and Ballyhaise has reached 255.0 mm (normal 291.8) so about 87% there). Athenry as well as Valentia also somewhat dry mainly due to the June drought, both now running about 75% of normal overall with most of the deficit in June. Malin Head is only slightly below its four-month average. Belmullet is similar with about 93% of normal for the period.

JCX BXC · 28-08-2018 10:45pm

SleetAndSnow wrote: »

Maybe if the 2 billion euro + all the bonuses they were getting was used to repair the pipes instead of charging people already burdened down by high tax rates it could have been fixed..

I must point out, the main opposition was from people who'd have never paid anyway, and aren't burdened down by any sort of tax rate, well perhaps the tax on tobacco.

appledrop · 28-08-2018 11:02pm

Extending the hose pipe ban is a joke. Wait + see we will probably get the wettest Sep or Oct now. In fairness no one needs to use the hose pipes because plenty of rain in gardens now! A 3 month hose ban in a country that gets as much rain over the year as we do is an absolute joke. Yes we know we had the drought for few weeks but rain was above average in Dublin for March + April. There is enough water if they coped on + fixed the leaks + stored it properly.

SleetAndSnow · 28-08-2018 11:18pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

I must point out, the main opposition was from people who'd have never paid anyway, and aren't burdened down by any sort of tax rate, well perhaps the tax on tobacco.

I mean considering my family, all of which are over 18 so would have to be paying the 'adult' rate for them. And I can assure you, my family is burdened down by tax.. the pay for everything no grant family type situation 2 in University with fees. Lots of people like that too.

Sorry just had to reply to that.

As for water storage, we need more resovoirs in the cities / drought prone areas, which hopefully will be fastracked follow this. Unsure though.

uck51js9zml2yt · 29-08-2018 12:07am

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Maybe if we brought in a water utility, that charged people for their usage of water, which can then use this money to repair the aging water network in Ireland. Why so reactionary indeed...

Don't be planting such revolutionary ideas in peoples heads;)

DOCARCH · 29-08-2018 5:57am

M.T. Cranium wrote: »

These are current total rainfalls May through August for various locations....

84.6mm for same period in Dublin 16.

NIMAN · 29-08-2018 6:11am

I can barely remember a day in August without rain up here in Donegal.

Oneiric 3 · 29-08-2018 12:10pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

I must point out, the main opposition was from people who'd have never paid anyway, and aren't burdened down by any sort of tax rate, well perhaps the tax on tobacco.

We are already paying for water though tax. An additional tax is just that, and is nothing more than an Irish solution to an Irish problem. We also pay an annual household tax, why? And why is the cost of living in this country one the highest in the world (No.7 according to latest figures) with a health service that is amongst the worst in Europe, despite the fact that our leaders are some of the highest paid (by the taxpayer) in the EU?

But in true Irish style, always better to burden the plebeians with extra tax to maintain the lifestyles of gombeen charlatans in suits than the big corps, isn't it?

http://www.euronews.com/2017/08/16/ireland-refuses-to-collect-commissions-13-billion-tax-bill-from-apple

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/ireland-to-fight-proposed-eu-digital-tax-on-internet-giants-1.3312834

MJohnston · 29-08-2018 12:20pm

Maybe there's some other thread for this crap?

Alanstrainor · 29-08-2018 12:23pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Maybe there's some other thread for this crap?

Apologies... I knew my statement wouldn't go unanswered....

Oneiric 3 · 29-08-2018 12:32pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Maybe there's some other thread for this crap?

Go make one then, this one is mine. :P

OneEightSeven · 29-08-2018 1:08pm

Oneiric 3 wrote: »

We are already paying for water though tax. An additional tax is just that, and is nothing more than an Irish solution to an Irish problem.

You could make the same argument about electricity, too. Just like electricity, the charges exist to prevent overuse. Drinking water isn't free, it's needs to be purified before it's drinkable, which requires factories and employees, just like the way producing electricity needs power plants and employees.

And why is the cost of living in this country one the highest in the world (No.7 according to latest figures) with a health service that is amongst the worst in Europe, despite the fact that our leaders are some of the highest paid (by the taxpayer) in the EU?

But in true Irish style, always better to burden the plebeians with extra tax to maintain the lifestyles of gombeen charlatans in suits than the big corps, isn't it?

http://www.euronews.com/2017/08/16/ireland-refuses-to-collect-commissions-13-billion-tax-bill-from-apple

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/ireland-to-fight-proposed-eu-digital-tax-on-internet-giants-1.3312834

Those companies bring jobs and they'll leave for another tax heaven if we increased our corporation tax. I'm more concerned about immigrants on rent allowance, with the worst housing crisis in the history of this state, you'd think we'd cut off some the dead weight. If Ireland brings in universal healthcare, we'll have even more freeloaders coming here, especially after Britain kicks theirs out next year.

hinault · 30-08-2018 4:05pm

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

Do we need average rainfall to have no soil moisture deficits and no water shortages or does "average" provide a lot of surplus ?

Or, if rainfall remains below average is it still possible to replenish reserves?

"The first four weeks of August have seen some periods of rainfall nationally," the utility said in a statement.

"In the north and west of the country, this has resulted in increased flows in rivers [and] some recovery in lake levels.

"In these areas, in particular, Irish Water has been able to scale back the emergency measures put in place during July, with the majority of water supplies working normally."

"Very critical"
It said supply in the south of the country remains "very critical" - especially in Crok, Limerick and parts of Kerry.

"Hydrological reports show water levels to be stable or falling, despite recent rainfall," said the utility.

It said conservation by households in the Greater Dublin Area has managed to contain usage - however, levels in the Poulaphouca reservoir are still dropping, albeit at a slower rate.

Autumn demand
The utility said there is now a reasonable prospect it will be able to meet the region's demand throughout the autumn, "with a continued conservation effort."

It warned that if September and October prove to be unusually dry, the region will be faced with minimum reserve levels.

"At this stage, levels will be at historic low levels going into the winter," said the utility. "We will be anxiously watching the lake recovery to ensure that we enter 2019 with a full reserve."

"Given the critical reliance of over 1.6 million people and the region’s businesses on these resources, we believe that the urgent focus on water conservation will be needed through the coming months."

The Water Conservation Order bans the use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for a range of purposes.

https://www.newstalk.com/Irish-Water-extends-hosepipe-ban-across-16-counties-

DOCARCH · 31-08-2018 8:10pm

A very dry summer here in Dublin 16.

Assuming no rain this evening (...does not look likely...), my summer rainfall total (Jun-Jul-Aug) for 2018 is 69.0mm

For comparison, looked back at my records to 2010. Summer rainfall totals (for Dublin 16) back to 2010....

2017 167.2mm
2016 192.0mm
2015 156.9mm
2014 238.0mm
2013 96.6mm
2012 428.1mm
2011 193.2mm
2010 171.6mm

BliainanAir · 31-08-2018 8:15pm

With the first 10 days of September looking dry, and if the month was to continue in this vein we'd be looking at drought restrictions again in the south and east.

Farmers who have used winter fodder already and planning late cuts of silage could be in a bit of bother. Of course the days will be shorter and no real intense heat so you'd hope grass growth wouldn't be as restricted, heavy dewfall too.

Artane2002 · 31-08-2018 9:04pm

Looks like it's the 3rd driest summer on record for Dublin Airport then.

MJohnston · 31-08-2018 10:00pm

sryanbruen might confirm (based on a previous post of his), but with 103.7mm of rain, I believe this is the driest summer on record at Cork Airport.

Previous record he mentioned was 1995 with 114.0mm.

sryanbruen · 31-08-2018 11:03pm

MJohnston wrote: »

sryanbruen might confirm (based on a previous post of his), but with 103.7mm of rain, I believe this is the driest summer on record at Cork Airport.

Previous record he mentioned was 1995 with 114.0mm.

Yes, with records going back to 1962, 2018 is Cork Airport's driest Summer on record.

I have attached the excel file of every Summer rainfall for Cork Airport from 1962 to 2018 so you can see for yourself.

Data comes from Met Éireann.

SleetAndSnow · 01-09-2018 12:19am

sryanbruen wrote: »

Yes, with records going back to 1962, 2018 is Cork Airport's driest Summer on record.

I have attached the excel file of every Summer rainfall for Cork Airport from 1962 to 2018 so you can see for yourself.

Data comes from Met Éireann.

Another record broken, h'on Cork!

vistafinder · 01-09-2018 8:26am

The grass is back to green again around west Cork with a couple of weeks but the ground is still bone dry and there is lots of well's going dry still.

Mobhi1 · 01-09-2018 12:42pm

There is still a patch of brown grass in the back garden but it's under the boughs of a tree so it probably didn't get wetted by any of the rain that has fallen.

Oneiric 3 · 02-09-2018 10:28am

Here's a table showing the monthly summer 2018 rain totals and percentages at all of the reporting Met Eireann stations. List is ordered by wettest to driest for the whole season.

Eolas ó Met Éireann.

MJohnston · 02-09-2018 12:00pm

Wow, only 1 station essentially at-average. I'd love to see another column with driest summers on record - was Cork the only record breaker?

HighLine · 04-09-2018 2:31pm

arctictree wrote: »

The levels of water in the roundwood reservoirs are generally 3 or 4 months behind the weather. Winter 2017 was very dry and we didnt get enough rain to replenish the reservoirs so they stayed low. It took until Jan 2018 for the levels to be back up to full. I expect the water levels to not drop low until August.

Very good call... levels currently very low. (If you click into the photos of the tweet below, you can see the difference from July to now)

https://twitter.com/IrelandSkycam/status/1036967396412719104

hinault · 05-09-2018 8:46am

The very low quantity of rainfall since the end of the drought is very noticeable.

The lawn in my front garden and my back garden remains rock hard. Usually during April to September I have to cut both lawns every 2 weeks.
By this time of the year, I would have mowed both lawns about 16 times.

This year I have moved both lawns 4 times since April 2018, due to the lack of grass growth which I put down to, in part, the huge decrease in rainfall amounts

snowstreams · 05-09-2018 3:09pm

My grass has been growing like mad since the drought ended.
But we have had a decent amount of rain here in Athenry compared to the south and east.

SleetAndSnow · 05-09-2018 5:47pm

we've cut the grass once in Cork city since the drought 'ended'. The grass is green and its been drizzling but there isn't a need to cut it. Makes it cut two times in total this summer/autumn

odyboody · 06-09-2018 8:57am

HighLine wrote: »

Very good call... levels currently very low. (If you click into the photos of the tweet below, you can see the difference from July to now)

https://twitter.com/IrelandSkycam/status/1036967396412719104

What I found really interesting is if you click onto the irelandSkycam web site the photos from January 2017 are very similar water levels to now

sryanbruen · 29-09-2018 3:04pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Wow, only 1 station essentially at-average. I'd love to see another column with driest summers on record - was Cork the only record breaker?

Sorry this is taking a long time to answer MJohnston (I'm also working on the replies to other statistical questions that have been asked on here during or after Storm Ali). According to Met Éireann's PDF, Cork Airport was indeed the only record breaker for the #1 spot at least. 2018 fell at least in the top 5 driest at several stations. Mullingar is one example (just abouts beating 1983). Monthly records for Mullingar go back to 1950.

Data comes from Met Éireann.

Jpmarn · 01-10-2018 12:40am

Still suffering the after affects of the drought that was prevalent over the summer. Made 75 bales in a particular field in the first cut in June. Just did the second cut a month late and only made 39 bales of silage. In a good year I would get about 60 bales in late August and I would have in calf heifers in the field by now. In another field I got a good crop of silage in early June. It got grazed in late July in the height of grass shortages. It is still not fit to cut yet for silage yet. What will happen do this field will depend on the performance of the rest of the farm. Grass growth is highly variable from time to time and from the field to field. Generally growth has been fairly good in the last week. If growth keeps up for the next few weeks it would be quite likely the field would be cut. If not it would be grazed then and would be a help in delaying the start of winter foddering which is a scarce resource this year.

ZX7R · 02-10-2018 5:53pm

Got out and about on the motorcycle today and was shocked to see how many small streams are still bone dry.
A lot of famers and wildlife going to suffer if we end up with a dryer and colder than average winter

Oneiric 3 · 21-10-2018 3:35pm

Of no great concern really, but of statistical interest, we currently are running at a rainfall deficit (nationally speaking) once again with the current rainfall percentage of normal over the last 28 days coming in at just 67%, which is the lowest value, relative to average, since the 28 day period up to July 29th, and in terms of actual totals, since the 4 week period up to August 14th.

Below is a chart showing the running 28 day % values since the start of the year. Ever since the summer drought ended, rainfall totals have generally wavered very close to average, but the current trend is downwards once again. And with high pressure once again setting up shop close to Ireland for the coming week, this is a trend that is likey to continue, at least in the short to medium term.

Datums C/O Met Éireann.

pauldry · 21-10-2018 3:38pm

I was wondering what the situation in the East is as it rains way less this year than previous years. How long before they run into water shortage problems though its promised showery next weekend....hardly a deluge.

Oneiric 3 · 21-10-2018 4:26pm

pauldry wrote: »

I was wondering what the situation in the East is as it rains way less this year than previous years. How long before they run into water shortage problems though its promised showery next weekend....hardly a deluge.

Totals and percentages for some east and midland stations over the last 4 week period (Met Éireann)

Drought/Low Rainfall Watch - Summer 2018

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